Slavery is the fastest-growing global enterprise, and America has now become one of the top three destination countries for this labor market. “Can we love God’s children more than we fear evil?,” is the question actor Jim Caviezel posed to Americans on the opening weekend of his latest movie, The Sound of Freedom. The movie is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former federal agent for the US government, as he searches for a young girl who was abducted into sex trafficking in Mexico. After working for years in Homeland Security, he quits his job (while on a rescue mission in Honduras) and begins organizing his own independent team to continue rescuing abducted children. His child rescue operation is now known as Operation Underground Railroad (OUR).
The blockbuster documentary hit theaters this past July 4th, becoming the top-grossing movie for an Independence Day release. On its first day, the film took the top spot at the box office, generating $14 million. From then on, the movie continued to gain speed. Audiences gave the movie an A+ on CinemaScore and a 100% rating score on Rotten Tomatoes. Considered too controversial for Hollywood, Sound of Freedom used a crowdfunding method and a “pay it forward” ticket method in order to provide everyone who wanted to see the film the opportunity, no matter their financial background. It was produced by Angel Studios, and if that company sounds familiar it’s probably because they also produce the hit show, The Chosen. Jim Caviezel, who plays Tim Ballard, also portrayed Jesus Christ in the movie The Passion of the Christ.
In an interview shortly after the film was released, Ballard told Fox News that the “Sound of Freedom is, at times, difficult to watch and is meant to make viewers aware of the grotesque $150 billion, global criminal enterprise that is child trafficking.” As someone who has seen the movie, I wholeheartedly agree and can attest to this statement. While incredibly informative and well done, it is also gut-wrenching and will give you a newfound awareness of the turn our world has taken. What is as shocking as the subject and reality of the movie is the film’s reference to real-life, bold-face names within the script. The producers made it clear by doing this that they want to spread the truth and do not care about any backlash they may face. They seek to spread the truth and wake up our country to the horrors of child sex trafficking.
In an interview with Fox News on The Sound of Freedom, Jim Caviezel reiterated this belief by saying the movie is “about the children and Americans waking up right now. And the only way these laws are going to be changed is if the people move right now to save them, this is a good-versus-evil story. This is a battle hero story, and I was very blessed that I got the opportunity [to be a part of this film].” This is an incredible movie that had a profound impact on me. I walked out of the theater simultaneously feeling upset and with a newfound awareness of the world and the action America must begin taking to save these innocent children. I cannot recommend The Sound of Freedom enough and highly encourage everyone to see the movie.
Sarah Grace Lange ‘25, Opinions and Politics Editor
